Physics 111: Mechanics

Lecture 7

Dale Gary
NJIT Physics Department
 Potential Energy and
Energy Conservation
 Work
 Kinetic Energy
 Work-Kinetic Energy Theorem
 Gravitational Potential Energy
 Elastic Potential Energy
 Work-Energy Theorem
 Conservative and
Non-conservative Forces
 Conservation of Energy

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 Definition of Work W
 The work, W, done by a constant force on an
object is defined as the product of the
component of the force along the direction of
displacement and the magnitude of the
displacement
W ( F cos  )x

 F is the magnitude of the force

 Δ x is the magnitude of the
object’s displacement 
F and x
  is the angle between
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 Work Done by Multiple
Forces
 If more than one force acts on an object,
then the total work is equal to the
algebraic sum of the work done by the
individual forces
Wnet  Wby individual forces

 Remember work is a scalar, so

this is the algebraic sum
Wnet Wg  WN  WF ( F cos  )r

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 Kinetic Energy and Work
 Kinetic energy associated with the
motion of an object1 2
KE  mv
2
 Scalar quantity with the same unit as
work
 Work is1related
1 to2 kinetic energy
mv  mv0 ( Fnet cos  )x
2
Units: N-m or J
2 2
xf
 F dr
xi

Wnet  KEfi  KE  KE

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 Work done by a Gravitational
Force
 Gravitational Force
 Magnitude: mg
1 1 2
 Direction: downwards to the Wnet  mv 2  mv0
2 2

Earth’s center
 Work done by
Gravitational Force
 
W F r cos  F  r

Wg mgr cos 

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 Potential Energy
 Potential energy is associated
with the position of the object
 Gravitational Potential Energy is
the energy associated with the
relative position of an object in
space near the Earth’s surface
 The gravitational potential
energy
PE mgy

 m is the mass of an object

 g is the acceleration of gravity
 y is the vertical position of the mass
relative the surface of the Earth
 SI unit: joule (J)
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 Reference Levels
 A location where the gravitational
potential energy is zero must be chosen
for each problem
 The choice is arbitrary since the change in the
potential energy is the important quantity
 Choose a convenient location for the zero
reference height
 often the Earth’s surface
 may be some other point suggested by the problem
 Once the position is chosen, it must remain
fixed for the entire problem

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 Work and Gravitational
Potential Energy
 PE = mgy
 W F y cos  mg ( y  y ) cos180
g f i

 mg ( y f  yi ) PEi  PE f
Units of Potential
Energy are the
same as those of
Work and Kinetic
Energy
Wgravity KE  PE PEi  PE f

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 Extended Work-Energy

Theorem
The work-energy theorem can be extended to
include potential energy:
Wnet  KEfi  KE  KE
Wgravity PEi  PE f
 Wnet Wgravity
If we only have gravitational force, then
KE f  KEi PEi  PE f
KE f  PE f PEi  KEi
 The sum of the kinetic energy and the
gravitational potential energy remains constant
at all time and hence is a conserved quantity
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 Extended Work-Energy
Theorem
 We denote the total mechanical energy by

E KE  PE
 Since KE f  PE f PEi  KEi

 The total mechanical energy is conserved and

remains the same at all times
1 2 1 2
mvi  mgyi  mv f  mgy f
2 2

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 Problem-Solving Strategy
 Define the system
 Select the location of zero gravitational
potential energy
 Do not change this location while solving the
problem
 Identify two points the object of interest
moves between
 One point should be where information is given
 The other point should be where you want to
find out something

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 Platform Diver
 A diver of mass m drops
from a board 10.0 m
above the water’s
surface. Neglect air
resistance.
 (a) Find is speed 5.0 m
above the water surface
 (b) Find his speed as he
hits the water

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 Platform Diver
 (a) Find his speed 5.0 m above the
water surface
1 2 1
mvi  mgyi  mv 2f  mgy f
2 2
1
0  gyi  v 2f  mgy f
2
v f  2 g ( yi  y f )

 2(9.8m / s 2 )(10m  5m) 9.9m / s

 (b) Find his speed as he hits the

water 1
0  mgyi  mv 2f  0
2
v f  2 gyi 14m / s

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 Spring Force
 Involves the spring
constant, k
 Hooke’s Law gives the force
 
F  kd
 F is in the opposite direction of
displacement d, always back
towards the equilibrium point.
 k depends on how the spring
was formed, the material it is
made from, thickness of the
wire, etc. Unit: N/m.
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Potential Energy in a Spring
 Elastic Potential Energy: 1 2
PEs  kx
 SI unit: Joule (J) 2
 related to the work required to
compress a spring from its
equilibrium position to some
final, arbitrary, position x
 Work done by the spring
xf 1 2 1 2
Ws  ( kx)dx  kxi  kx f
xi 2 2
Ws PEsi  PEsf
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 Extended Work-Energy

Theorem
The work-energy theorem can be extended to
include potential energy:
Wnet  KEfi  KE  KE
Wgravity PEi  PE f Ws PEsi  PEsf
 If we include gravitational force and spring force,
then Wnet Wgravity  Ws
( KE f  KEi )  ( PE f  PEi )  ( PEsf  PEsi ) 0

KE f  PE f  PEsf PEi  KEi  KEsi

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 Extended Work-Energy
Theorem
 We denote the total mechanical energy by
E KE  PE  PEs

 Since ( KE  PE  PEs ) f ( KE  PE  PEs ) i

 The total mechanical energy is conserved and

remains the same at all times
1 2 1 1 1
mvi  mgyi  kxi2  mv 2f  mgy f  kx 2f
2 2 2 2

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 A block projected up a

incline
A 0.5-kg block rests on a horizontal, frictionless
surface. The block is pressed back against a
spring having a constant of k = 625 N/m,
compressing the spring by 10.0 cm to point A.
Then the block is released.
 (a) Find the maximum distance d the block
travels up the frictionless incline if θ = 30°.
 (b) How fast is the block going when halfway to
its maximum height?

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 A block projected up a
incline
 Point A (initial state):vi 0, yi 0, xi  10cm  0.1m
 Point B (final state): v f 0, y f h d sin  , x f 0
1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2
mvi  mgyi  kxi  mv f  mgy f  kx f
2 2 2 2
1 2
2
kxi mgy f mgd sin 
2 kxi
1 2
d
mg sin 
0.5(625 N / m)( 0.1m) 2

(0.5kg )(9.8m / s 2 ) sin 30
1.28m
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 A block projected up a
incline
 Point A (initial state):vi 0, yi 0, xi  10cm  0.1m
 Point B (final state): v f ?, y f h / 2 d sin  / 2, x f 0
1 2 1 1 1
mvi  mgyi  kxi2  mv 2f  mgy f  kx 2f
2 2 2 2
1 2 1 2 h k 2
kxi  mv f  mg ( ) xi v 2f  gh
2 2 2 m
h d sin  (1.28m) sin 30 0.64m
k 2
vf  xi  gh
m
...... 2.5m / s
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 Types of Forces
 Conservative forces
 Work and energy associated
with the force can be
recovered
 Examples: Gravity, Spring
Force, EM forces
 Nonconservative forces
 The forces are generally
dissipative and work done
against it cannot easily be
recovered
 Examples: Kinetic friction, air
drag forces, normal forces,
tension forces, applied forces
…
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 Conservative Forces
 A force is conservative if the work it does
on an object moving between two points is
independent of the path the objects take
between the points
 The work depends only upon the initial and final
positions of the object
 Any conservative force can have a potential
energy function associated with it
 Work done by gravity Wg PEi  PE f mgyi  mgy f
 Work done by spring force 1 2 1 2
Ws PEsi  PEsf  kxi  kx f
2 2
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 Nonconservative Forces
 A force is nonconservative if the work it
does on an object depends on the path
taken by the object between its final and
starting points.
 The work depends upon the movement path
 For a non-conservative force, potential energy
can NOT be defined
 Work done by a nonconservative force
Wnc  F d  f k d   Wotherforce s

 It is generally dissipative. The dispersal

of energy takes the form of heat or sound
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 Extended Work-Energy

Theorem
The work-energy theorem can be written as:
Wnet  KEfi  KE  KE
Wnet Wnc  Wc
 Wnc represents the work done by nonconservative forces
 Wc represents the work done by conservative forces
 Any work done by conservative forces can be
accounted for by changes in potential
Wc PEenergy
i  PE f

Wg PEi  PE f mgyi  mgy f

 Gravity work
1 2 1 2
W PEi  PE f  kxi  kx f
 Spring force work s 2 2
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 Extended Work-Energy
Theorem
 Any work done by conservative forces can be
accounted for by changes in potential energy
Wc PEi  PE f  ( PE f  PEi )  PE
Wnc KE  PE ( KE f  KEi )  ( PE f  PEi )
Wnc ( KE f  PE f )  ( KEi  PEi )
 Mechanical energy includes kinetic and potential
energy 1 2 1 2
E KE  PE KE  PE g  PEs  mv  mgy  kx
2 2
Wnc E f  Ei

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 Problem-Solving Strategy
 Define the system to see if it includes non-
conservative forces (especially friction, drag force …)
 Without non-conservative forces
1 2 1 1 1
mv f  mgy f  kx 2f  mvi2  mgyi  kxi2
2 2 2 2
 With non-conservative forces
Wnc ( KE f  PE f )  ( KEi  PEi )
1 1 1 1
 fd   Wotherforce s ( mv 2f  mgy f  kx 2f )  ( mvi2  mgyi  kxi2 )
 Select the location 2 of zero potential
2 2energy 2
 Do not change this location while solving the problem
 Identify two points the object of interest moves
between
 One point should be where information is given
 The other point should be where you want to find out
something
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 Conservation of Mechanical
Energy

A block of mass m = 0.40 kg slides across a
horizontal frictionless counter with a speed of v =
0.50 m/s. It runs into and compresses a spring of
spring constant k = 750 N/m. When the block is
momentarily stopped by the spring, by what distance
d is the springWcompressed?
( KE  PE )  ( KE  PE )
nc f f i i

1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 2
mv f  mgy f  kx 2f  mvi2  mgyi  kxi2 0  0  kd  mv  0  0
2 2 2 2 2 2
1 1
0  0  kd 2  mv 2  0  0
2 2
m 2
d v 1.15cm
k

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Changes in Mechanical Energy for conservative
forces

A 3-kg crate slides down a ramp. The ramp is 1 m in length
and inclined at an angle of 30° as shown. The crate starts
from rest at the top. The surface friction can be negligible.
Use energy methods to determine the speed of the crate at
the bottom of the1ramp. 1 1 1
 fd   Wotherforce s ( mv 2f  mgy f  kx 2f )  ( mvi2  mgyi  kxi2 )
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
( mv 2f  mgy f  kx 2f ) ( mvi2  mgyi  kxi2 )
2 2 2 2

d 1m, yi d sin 30 0.5m, vi 0

y f 0, v f ?
1
( mv 2f  0  0) (0  mgyi  0)
2
v f  2 gyi 3.1m / s

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Changes in Mechanical Energy for Non-
conservative forces

A 3-kg crate slides down a ramp. The ramp is 1 m in length
and inclined at an angle of 30° as shown. The crate starts
from rest at the top. The surface in contact have a coefficient
of kinetic friction of 0.15. Use energy methods to determine
the speed of the crate at the bottom of the ramp.
1 1 1 1
 fd   Wotherforce s ( mv 2f  mgy f  kx 2f )  ( mvi2  mgyi  kxi2 )
2 2 2 2
1 2 N
  k Nd  0 ( mv f  0  0)  (0  mgyi  0)
2
fk
 k 0.15, d 1m, yi d sin 30 0.5m, N ?
N  mg cos  0
1
  k dmg cos   mv 2f  mgyi
2
v f  2 g ( yi   k d cos  ) 2.7 m / s

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Changes in Mechanical Energy for Non-
conservative forces

A 3-kg crate slides down a ramp. The ramp is 1 m in length
and inclined at an angle of 30° as shown. The crate starts
from rest at the top. The surface in contact have a coefficient
of kinetic friction of 0.15. How far does the crate slide on the
horizontal floor if it continues to experience a friction force.
1 1 1 1
 fd   Wotherforce s ( mv 2f  mgy f  kx 2f )  ( mvi2  mgyi  kxi2 )
2 2 2 2
1
  k Nx  0 (0  0  0)  ( mvi2  0  0)
2
 k 0.15, vi 2.7 m / s, N ?
N  mg 0
1 2
  k mgx  mvi
2
vi2
x 2.5m
2 k g
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 Block-Spring Collision
 A block having a mass of 0.8 kg is given an initial velocity vA
= 1.2 m/s to the right and collides with a spring whose mass
is negligible and whose force constant is k = 50 N/m as
shown in figure. Assuming the surface to be frictionless,
calculate the maximum compression of the spring after the
collision.
1 1 1 1
mv 2f  mgy f  kx 2f  mvi2  mgyi  kxi2
2 2 2 2

1 2 1 2
mvmax  0  0  mv A  0  0
2 2

m 0.8kg
xmax  vA  (1.2m / s ) 0.15m
k 50 N / m

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 Block-Spring Collision
 A block having a mass of 0.8 kg is given an initial velocity vA
= 1.2 m/s to the right and collides with a spring whose mass
is negligible and whose force constant is k = 50 N/m as
shown in figure. Suppose a constant force of kinetic friction
acts between the block and the surface, with µk = 0.5, what
is the maximum compression xc in the spring.
1 1 1 1
 fd   Wotherforce s ( mv 2f  mgy f  kx 2f )  ( mvi2  mgyi  kxi2 )
2 2 2 2
1 1
  k Nd  0 (0  0  kxc2 )  ( mv A2  0  0)
2 2
N mg and d  xc
1 2 1 2
kxc  mv A   k mgxc
2 2
25 xc2  3.9 xc  0.58 0 xc 0.093m
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 Energy Review
 Kinetic Energy
 Associated with movement of members of
a system
 Potential Energy
 Determined by the configuration of the
system
 Gravitational and Elastic
 Internal Energy
 Related to the temperature of the system
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 Conservation of Energy
 Energy is conserved
 This means that energy cannot be
created nor destroyed
 If the total amount of energy in a
system changes, it can only be due to
the fact that energy has crossed the
boundary of the system by some
method of energy transfer

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 Ways to Transfer Energy
Into or Out of A System
 Work – transfers by applying a force and causing
a displacement of the point of application of the
force
 Mechanical Waves – allow a disturbance to
propagate through a medium
 Heat – is driven by a temperature difference
between two regions in space
 Matter Transfer – matter physically crosses the
boundary of the system, carrying energy with it
 Electrical Transmission – transfer is by electric
current
 Electromagnetic Radiation – energy is
transferred by electromagnetic waves 10/31/24
 Connected Blocks in Motion
 Two blocks are connected by a light string that passes over a
frictionless pulley. The block of mass m1 lies on a horizontal
surface and is connected to a spring of force constant k. The
system is released from rest when the spring is unstretched.
If the hanging block of mass m2 falls a distance h before
coming to rest, calculate the coefficient of kinetic friction
between the  Wotherforce
fd block of mass m and the surface.
s KE 1 PE

1
PE PE g  PEs (0  m2 gh)  ( kx 2  0)
2
1
  k Nx  0  m2 gh  kx 2
2
N mg and x h 1
m2 g  kh
1 k  2
  k m1 gh  m2 gh  kh 2 m1 g
2
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 Power
 Work does not depend on time interval
 The rate at which energy is transferred is
important in the design and use of
practical device
 The time rate of energy transfer is called
power
 The average power is given by
W
P
t
 when the method of energy transfer is work
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 Instantaneous Power
 Power is the time rate of energy transfer.
Power is valid for any means of energy
transfer W Fx
 Other expression P   Fv
t t

 A more general definition of instantaneous

W dW  dr  
power P  lim  F  F v
t  0 t dt dt
 
P F v Fv cos 
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 Units of Power
 TheSI unit of power is called the
watt
 1 watt = 1 joule / second = 1 kg . m2 / s3
A unit of power in the US Customary
system is horsepower
 1 hp = 550 ft . lb/s = 746 W
 Units
of power can also be used to
express units of work or energy
 1 kWh = (1000 W)(3600 s) = 3.6 x106 J
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 Power Delivered by an Elevator
Motor

A 1000-kg elevator carries a maximum load of 800
kg. A constant frictional force of 4000 N retards its
motion upward. What minimum power must the
motor deliver to lift the fully loaded elevator at a
constant speed
F of 3 m/s?
ma
net , y y

T  f  Mg 0
T  f  Mg 2.16 10 4 N
P Fv (2.16 10 4 N )(3m / s )
6.48 10 4 W
P 64.8kW 86.9hp
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